Drinking green tea may help reduce the risk of breast cancer

Shizuoka Green Tea Guide : Tea Blogger (Monira Pervin)

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Breast cancer is a common cancer in women both in the developed and less developed country in the world. World Health Organization (WHO) in 2013 reported that over 508000 women died in 2011 due to breast cancer (Global Health Estimates). It also showed that there were an estimated 1.7 million new cases (25% of all cancers in women) and 0.5 million cancer deaths (15% of all cancer deaths in women) reported in 2012. A healthy diet considered is an important factor preventing breast cancer. Many scientific studies showed the protective effect of green tea against diseases such as breast cancer.

Green Tea

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular beverages consumed in worldwide.

For preparation of green tea, fresh tea leaves are picked and immediately steamed and dried to prevent oxidation of enzyme which is responsible retains it green color, whereas black tea and other types of tea are fermented or semi-fermented after they are picked.

Epidemiological research on green tea consumption and breast cancer

An epidemiological study carried out in Japan showed that drinking green tea had a preventive effect on breast cancer among women those drank more than 10 cups of green tea per day.

A research article in the Journal of Nutrition says that regular drinking of green tea was associated with a slightly decreased risk for breast cancer in women.

Several population-based case-control studies were conducted in China, USA and Singapore showed that green tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer compare non-tea drinkers.

Another research study in USA that appeared in the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reported that [20] women aged less than 50 years old, consumed tea three or more cups per day had a 37% reduced breast cancer risk when compared with women reporting no tea consumption.

However, the effects of green tea on the prevention of breast cancer are still inconclusive and need to do research more to find out its beneficial effects in suppressing breast cancer.

Conclusion

Recent scientific evidence suggests that regular drinking of green tea may possibly protect against breast cancer.

References

1. Stewart, B.W.;Wild, C.P. World Cancer Report 2014;World Health Organization: French, 2014; Chapters 1.1 and 5.2; Available online: http://www.searo.who.int/publications/bookstore/documents/9283204298/en/  (accessed on 20 May 2016).
2. Imai, K. et al. Cancer-Preventive effects of drinking green tea among a Japanese population. Prev. Med. 1997, 26, 769–775.
3. Shrubsole, M.J. et al. Drinking Green Tea Modestly Reduces Breast Cancer Risk. J. Nutr. 2009, 139, 310–316.
4. Zhang, M. et al. Green tea and the prevention of breast cancer: A case-control study in Southeast China. Carcinogenesis 2007, 28, 1074–1078.
5. Wu, A.H.; Yu, M.C. et al. Green tea and risk of breast cancer in Asian Americans. Int. J. Cancer 2003, 106, 574–579.
6. Yuan, J.M.; Koh,W.P. et al. Green tea intake, ACE gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk among Chinese women in Singapore. Carcinogenesis 2005, 26, 1389–1394.
7. Kumar, N.; Titus-Ernstoff, L. et al. Tea consumption and risk of breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. 2009, 18, 341–345.

(Tea Blogger : Monira Pervin)